The hosts discuss strategies for staying motivated during long-form projects. They emphasize the importance of factors other than money in driving motivation. The speakers discuss strategies for staying motivated and productive while writing. They highlight the importance of writing for personal enjoyment and passion. The chapter transitions to discussing finding comp titles for querying agents. The chapter introduces the podcast 'Just Keep Writing' and discusses the use of personality type systems. They explore various techniques for developing and understanding characters in writing, including examining their abilities, roles, relationships, and using personality tests. They also discuss the use of fan-casting and provide insights on recording audiobooks. Learn about the technical aspects of setting up a fan studio. Discover how this knowledge can make you an audio engineer. Get recommendations for another podcast and share your success stories!
To stay motivated during long-form writing projects, find what personally motivates you and recreate that sense of motivation by reminding yourself why you started the project and what brings you joy about it.
When searching for comp titles for your query letter, focus on top-level vibes and overall feelings that align with your project, rather than plot details, to define a clear audience that matches your book.
Deep dives
Maintaining Motivation for Long-form Projects
To stay motivated during long-form writing projects, it's important to find what personally motivates you. Reflect on experiences where you were motivated to complete tasks in the past, such as running a race or working on a school project, and identify what kept you going. Recreate a similar sense of motivation for your writing by reminding yourself why you started the project and what brings you joy about it. You can also set small, immediate rewards for yourself, like writing a certain number of words or completing a section, to keep yourself engaged. Additionally, consider leveraging external accountability, such as joining a group or having writing peers who are expecting progress from you, as this can provide extra motivation to meet your goals.
Finding Comp Titles for Querying
When searching for comp titles to include in your query letter, think of it like a Venn diagram. Look for books that overlap and define a clear audience that matches your book. Rather than focusing on plot details, aim for top-level vibes and overall feelings that align with your project. Consider the category and energy of books similar to yours, and think about the kind of readers who would enjoy your work. You can also seek advice from others who are skilled in finding comp titles, as their insights can be valuable in narrowing down suitable comparisons.
Keeping Track of Story Elements in Long Projects
To keep track of story elements and hooks in a long writing project, it's helpful to establish a system for yourself. Consider rereading your work regularly to refresh your memory and discover surprises you may have forgotten. Leave notes for yourself to mark important sections or ideas that you want to revisit later. These notes serve as signposts to remind you of your original intentions, especially if you encounter gaps in your memory. Additionally, consider the benefits of having beta readers or a writing group who can provide comprehensive feedback on the entire project, as their insights may differ from those who only read portions and can offer a broader perspective.
We have a LIVE podcast recording from September 2023, when we were hosting one of our writing retreats on a cruise ship in Alaska! (To learn about our next WX Retreats, check out: https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/
This episode features questions from our writers, and those who attended our 2023 WXR Cruise to Alaska! We answered questions about success, what happens after you’re a NYTimes bestseller, and how you can record your own audiobook.
Homework:
Go listen to the most recent episode of the podcast Just Keep Writing.
Thing of the Week:
Just Keep Writing is a podcast cohosted by Marshall, our incredible recording engineer. It’s a podcast for writers, by writers, to keep you writing. The podcast focuses on building community and lifting marginalized voices. Learn more at justkeepwriting.org, or listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.